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Ubud is Bali's central highland destination that offers you an alternative to the island's famous coastal mix of sun, sand and surf of its south. Here in the cooler uplands you'll experience the beautiful rural Balinese countryside with rice fields and flowing green river valleys, the likes of the Ayung River Valley and the terraced paddies of Tegallalang. Ubud is also the place to be if you’re into culture and history. Besides dense rows of art shops and galleries, Ubud central features the Puri Saren Royal Palace, the Ubud Art Market and the Ubud Monkey Forest in the village of Padangtegal.

World-class dining is at Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique, and for true Balinese flavours, there’s Naughty Nuri’s and Babi Guling Ibu Oka for succulent pork. Along the Sayan ridge, up in the Petanu River gorge and near the Goa Gajah ‘elephant cave’ temple are great selections of resorts that offer wonderful natural vistas, while allowing you easy access to the exciting adventures such as mountain cycling and white water rafting that the Ayung River is famous for. Hotels in Ubud come in a rich variety, from luxury villas with outdoor dip pools, to those with expansive resort grounds that were designed with terraced rice fields in mind. In any way, Ubud is you’re next place to unwind. .

What is 'Editor's Pick': Editor’s Picks are hotels we personally reviewed and liked the most, ones we recommend to our friends and family when they come to Bali and are looking for the best places to stay according to their budget or location preferences.

Hotels with Best Views in Ubud

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan features 18 lavish suites and 42 private villas, each appointed with a mix of contemporary Balinese decor, wooden sculptures, rich teak furnishings and exotic fabrics. The one-bedroom villas are 290sqm with a plunge pool and outdoor gazebo beside a large lawn and gardens that provide ample space for families to unwind and play. Generous bathrooms feature terrazzo tiles, double vanities, deep soaking tubs and separate showers. The Sayan Villa is situated at the highest point of the resort and offers 1,050sqm of space, while The Royal Villa offers the largest space at 1,500sqm with room for nine guests, overlooking the forest highlands, rice terraces and the Ayung River.

The main restaurant, Ayung Terrace, offers valley views while you enjoy Asian-inspired and Indonesian specialties in its main dining room or on the outdoor terrace. The restaurant also offers Balinese cooking classes, and an attractive rijsttafel dinner that presents a delicious culinary journey with a banquet-style meal featuring many different selections from various regions of the archipelago. The chef creates unique specials on a daily basis and Ayung Terrace is also great for families with a childrens menu available. Kids will love the Pici Pici Club and upon check-in will receive a goody bag filled with surprises. Guests will enjoy leisurely walks around the resorts own set of lush paddies and organic farm, and there is a small two-tiered pool at the riverside cafe that never seems to be crowded.

What We loved:

Impressive entrance: a suspended bridge walk leads you to the resorts giant floating lily pond, with the lobby and Jati Bar located underneath

Riverside Cafe with a lower deck and two-tiered pool near the Ayung River

This legendary five-star resort is run by the royal family of Ubud, spread over 12 hectares overlooking the Ayung River valley. Royal Pita Maha features an overall timeless traditional Balinese layout and design, and is one of the few resorts that directly borders the flowing river and sits amidst the lush valley greenery, providing guests with a great sense of space and release. The resort is within a 90-minute transfer from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in South Bali, and only a 10-minute drive to the main hub of Ubud town. The resort is ideal for couples and honeymooners, as well as lovers of Balinese arts and culture.

The Royal Pita Maha offers a collection of luxury villas, each designed as a Balinese compound with thatched roofs and featuring top-quality indigenous materials. The Pool Villa provides a breath-taking vista of Ayung, while the Healing Villa offers a holistic accommodation alternative surrounded by a riverside organic farm. Terrace Restaurant presents a menu that enables a sampling of the islands indigenous flavours, while the Ayung Valley Restaurant offers all-day dining with international specialities. The open-air Ayung Organic Restaurant serves healthy dishes using ingredients sourced from the resort organic gardens. The resort has its own paddy field encircled by a relaxing lazy river, together with a 73-metre spring water-fed lagoon.

What We Loved:

Gorgeous views over the Ayung River Valley

Luxury villas that combine classical Balinese elements and modern amenities

Best Villas in Ubud

If a greater sense of privacy, luxury and space is what you're looking for on your next visit to Bali, then private villas are the way to go. Bali, as a holiday destination, is famous for its wonderful collection of luxurious villas, all which offer you a host of supporting amenities and personalised services (often with butler services around the clock!) that you won't find in a regular hotel. The collection of Bali villas below are great for a romantic break, but are good for groups or families too.

Viceroy Bali presents luxurious villa accommodation in the cool upland and cultural heartland of Bali, Ubud. The five-star resort makes good use of its natural surroundings, perched on a verdant valley overlooking one of the legendary rivers in Bali. Guests are welcomed to the calm and serenity of the hotel grounds, and enjoy a stay that is close to nature and away from the hubbubs of modern life. The resort is a 90-minute transfer from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in southern Bali, while the hub of Ubud, where a collection of must-see landmarks, art galleries, museums and rows of fine restaurants are found, is only a 15-minute transfer away.

Viceroy Bali offers a collection of well-appointed luxury villas, each offering great views over the valley, and come in five types of accommodation options. All feature pools, spacious interiors with sitting areas, marble bathrooms with shower, separate baths and twin vanities. Other amenities include complimentary wireless internet connectivity, 42 or 47-inch flat screen television with satellite channel services, iPod docking stations and espresso machine. The main infinity pool enjoys uninterrupted views over the forest and valley, as does the CasCades Restaurant, which serves fine cuisine. Lembah Spa also makes good use of the serene setting and views, with steam rooms, plunge pool and a sixty-eight jet therapeutic American Jacuzzi.

What We Loved:

Great setting with rice paddies and natural Petanu Valley surroundings

Luxurious villas with private pools and airy plans that are great for couples and honeymooners

Lembah Spa, where treatments are complemented by the relaxing views

CasCades Restaurant, one of the finest and romantic dining spots in Ubud

The resort is positioned well out-of-the-way, yet only 15-minutes to Ubud central

This gorgeous resort property located within the local community of Banjar Baung in Sayan village, is only several minutes west from Ubud central. The cool upland setting offers guests scenic views overlooking the regions rice fields and the Ayung River Valleys hillsides. The Samaya Ubud is a two-hour drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Tuban, South Bali, while Ubud and its close environs where most of the main regional highlights are found, from ancient temples and royal palaces to great restaurants and boutique shops, are within a 15-minute transfer from Sayan.

The Samaya Ubud offers a collection of modern private villas built into tropical surroundings that each feature a private pool, a bedroom with king size beds, a spacious bathroom and luxury amenities. The Hill View, Hill Side and Ayung Villas are spacious, and share splendid views overlooking the Ayung valley, making them ideal tropical retreats for intimacy and relaxation. Swept-Away restaurant offers unique Balinese dining experiences showcasing the rich flavours of local cuisine together with great views. Guests seeking further pampering and rejuvenation will enjoy a wide range of day spa packages and wellness treatments at its dedicated spa above the legendary Ayung River.

What We Loved:

Luxury accommodation within a peaceful and rustic upland neighborhood

Modern private pool villas, some with views overlooking the verdant Ayung River Valley

Dreamy riverside dining at Swept Away

Pampering treatments with soothing nature views and sounds at the spa

One-of-a-kind romantic options for couples and honeymooners, from riverside couple treatments to a 100 candles dinner on the Ayung riverbank

Luxury Hotels in Ubud

These hotels have it all! You will get the complete resort experience right in the heart of Bali at these five-star stunners. The prices are high but the range of leisure facilities, stylish rooms and well-oiled efficiency that you will find surely makes it worth the cost for those who expect the best.

While not centrally located in Ubud, The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah has one of the most dramatic rice field settings, one of the winning features of its scenic home village of Tengkulak. Uniquely designed one-bedroom suites and pool villas are spread throughout the green expanse. There are also 160sqm one-bedroom spa villas that offer the ultimate convenience for spa-goers, with daily 90-minute complimentary spa treatments delivered in a private in-villa treatment room. A 550sqm two-bedroom estate named after Tanah Gajah's founder and owner, Hadiprana, features some of the finest paintings, antiques and artefacts from his vast private collection. A 10-metre long swimming pool sits outside, surrounded by tropical gardens. Each villa features broadband Internet, iPod docking stations, 32-inch flat-screen televisions and Bose home theatre entertainment systems.

There is a gorgeous 35-metre main resort pool for proper laps, flanked by a pool bar in the form of a pavilion. The Restaurant is beautifully located amidst a refreshing sea of green, and serves breakfast and dinners with regular special menu highlights prepared by Executive Chef Khairudin Dean Nor. The Bird Lounge is ideal for Nature lovers, serving cocktails and cigars to the background of birdsong from the resort's adjacent aviary. The Spa at The Chedi Club offers a wide range of soothing therapies and body treatments in two private treatment suites that open out to spectacular paddy views. Additional facilities include a yoga studio and a gym, which are accessible for free. Also good for business travellers, The Chedi has a boardroom and meeting facilities, and the high-speed broadband keeps you connected even out in the rice fields.

What we loved:

Secluded location on the outskirts of Ubud, near the Goa Gajah archaeological site

Vast and open property grounds with only a few private cottage-styled suites and villas

Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one of the latest luxury resorts to grace the Ayung River Valley in Ubud. The resort offers a charming experience amongst Ubud’s cool upland nature that sets you far away from the crowds. Your retreat starts from entering the calming alleyway that leads you to the resort’s stone courtyard, and at the veranda you can enjoy the sweeping views of the resort’s grounds down to the green valley. As a suite or villa guest, you are assigned a butler who will provide you with personalised services throughout your stay.

Suites offer 100sqm of space and are beautifully designed with classical Balinese artworks, oftentimes in large sizes, adorning its walls, while soothing earthen tones and wooden furniture feature throughout the rooms and living spaces. Modern amenities include 48-inch screen LED TV with international channel selections. The one-bedroom villas offer wonderful living spaces at 430sqm, and you can also choose a secluded villa location by the riverfront. Stepping outside of your villa, you’re greeted by your own large private pool, which is bordered by lush greenery of your private lawn and the green forest as backdrop.

What We Loved:

Secluded nature location amongst the Ayung River Valley, great for romantic retreats

Beautiful suites and villas. Villas have soaring open beam ceilings and top-of-the line amenities

Mid Range Hotels in Ubud

For people want a full set of facilities but don’t expect perfection at every turn, these mid-range hotels are for you. Sure, you get a nice pool, room service, concierge, but the price is kept lower in different ways – for example, reduced selections at breakfast or slightly smaller guestrooms. The competition in Bali is so fierce that prices get reduced on five-star hotels pushing them into mid-range territory. But make no mistake, these are excellent hotels!

This Ubud hotel is centrally located on one of Ubud’s main streets, Jalan Hanoman, yet welcomes you to a very calming and pleasant atmosphere with its main resort grounds blending in with the rice fields of the neighbourhood. Many of the resort’s expansive grounds offer this scenic outlook, with greenery as far as your eyes can see. Most of its rooms are located a considerable distance at the back of the resort’s grounds, which further enhances the sense of seclusion that you’ll experience during your stay here.

Within Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa’s collection are a selection of rooms, suites and villas, all of which are designed with a neat blend between traditional Balinese elements and modern amenities. A unique choice is the Plunge Pool Suite, offering 35sqm of space, with a balcony or patio overlooking tropical gardens. Another is the 300sqm three-bedroom private pool villa that is great for large families or groups of friends opting for their Bali holiday in Ubud central. To unwind, there’s Padma Spa, which delivers treatments with soothing green views, ranging from hot stone massages, body scrubs and aromatherapy. The hotel has two outdoor pools with infinity views over the wonderful greenery.

What We Loved:

Centrally Ubud location, but with most of its accommodation secluded, quiet and comforting in the back of the resort

Great Plunge Pool Suite, adequate for couples, and large three-bedroom villa for families and groups

Tepi Sawah Villas & Spas comprises luxurious villas in five different categories set amongst lush greenery and fine landscaped tropical gardens. All categories have names inspired by the famous village areas around Ubud, namely the one-bedroom Batuan, the minimalist style Taman, the larger 200sqm Peliatan, 157sqm Ubud and 179sqm Campuhan villas. All villas feature air conditioning, television with international channels and free Wi-Fi and mini-bar. Tepi Sawah is home to the popular crispy duck restaurant Bebek Tepi Sawah, which features excellent dining setups amongst paddies. To explore the Ubud environs, free scheduled shuttle services to Ubud's main areas are provided.

Cheaper (but good) Hotels in Ubud

Choosing the right hotel in any budget is difficult, but getting a cheap (but good) hotel is one of the hardest of all to get right. In every destination the definition of ‘cheap’ changes, and so too does the quality of budget friendly hotels. We have spent many years trying to find the best compromise between quality and price. In this section we have selected hotels that are among the cheapest in the area yet are still sure to put a smile on your face – we only pick places we would be happy to send our families!

Puri Saraswati Bungalows lets you stay within the main locality of Ubud central. The hotel is right in the heart of town, behind the namesake Puri Saraswati Temple, which is one of the main landmarks of Ubud. The location is slightly tucked away from the main street, yet walking right out of the hotel you’ll find most of the highlights such as the Ubud Royal Palace and the adjacent community hall, and the Ubud Art Market all within easy walking distance. The hotel has served its steady flow of loyal guests for a quarter of a century.

Puri Saraswati Bungalows offers a total of 18 rooms that boast classical Balinese architecture and among its trademarks is its well-maintained tropical Balinese gardens. This special property in Ubud has close ties to the Ubud Royal Palace, hence as a guest here you’ll experience authentic Balinese ceremonies and vibrant daily cultural activities right out of your bungalow almost on a daily basis. There are several updated rooms that are beautifully furnished with modern amenities such as marble or terrazzo bathrooms, and large private verandas. The hotel's outdoor pool with sundecks is also a soothing oasis to get back to after your adventures through Ubud.

What We Loved:

Secluded but central location in Ubud

Historic and culturally rich aspects of the property, with its close ties to the Ubud royal family

Right behind the namesake Puri Saraswati Temple, which is an Ubud landmark and one of the most beautiful temples

Classical Balinese architectural features that are well maintained throughout the years. Great for nostalgic travellers

Nice pool, as an oasis to return to after adventurous walks throughout Ubud town

For a cheap stay that lets you stay right in the vicinity of Ubud’s famous monkey forest of Padangtegal, Lumbung Sari Ubud is a great option. This three-star hotel offers an ideal location for those who want most of Ubud’s shopping and walking street highlights within easy reach, all along the same Monkey Forest Road. The street leads up north toward Ubud central, where you’ll find the Ubud Royal Palace and the Ubud Art Market, together with a seemingly endless array of art galleries, restaurants and boutiques.

The hotel alone offers resort-style accommodation with its collection of Superior and Deluxe room choices that offer 20 and 24sqm of space respectively. Rooms may be compact but are clean and cool, with all the comforts and basics for an affordable and pleasurable stay in Ubud. Bathrooms feature shower and bathtub, and in-room entertainment includes television with local channel selections. The hotel has an outdoor pool bordered by sundecks with parasol-shaded loungers. To further unwind, there’s a spa facility onsite with skilled therapists delivering traditional Balinese massages.

What We Loved:

Lovely little hotel complex in a great location, just beside the landmark monkey forest of Ubud

Good access to the shops and bars along the walking street

Rooms are quiet and positioned at the back of the hotel, away from the crowd and traffic